HF III Montenegro - Enhancing Human Rights protection for detained and sentenced persons

The Action “Enhancing the human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro” in its third phase will build upon results of the two preceding Actions of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” in Montenegro through a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe initially launched in 2016. Council of Europe will support Montenegrin authorities to improve the protection of human rights of all persons deprived of liberty in the areas of police, prisons, mental health care institutions, and monitoring mechanisms.
The Action will work in partnership with the Ministry of Interior/Police Administration, Administration for execution of criminal sanctions, Ministry of Justice, Ombudsman/National Preventive Mechanism, State Prosecutor’s Office, and Ministry of Health as well as other national stakeholders, including prominent civil society organisations active on the protection and promotion of human rights of detained persons.
The Action’s main areas of intervention will strive to enhance the rights of persons deprived of liberty and achieve the following outcomes:

Treatment of persons detained in police custody is improved in line with the Council of Europe standards against ill-treatment and impunity;
Authorities in Montenegro strengthen their capacity to better protect prisoners’ human rights;
Detained persons in prisons receive improved health care services;
Better monitoring of detention facilities through enhanced capacity of the NPM Office.

The Action addresses the findings and the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), as well as the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on the application of Conventions of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).
The duration of the project is set at 48 months, and will be completed by 31 December 2026, with an overall budget of 800,000 Euros.

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Back Police training on human rights continues in Montenegro

Vladislav SPIRLICENCO

Continuing the progress made in the previous phases, the national team of police trainers formed with the support of the Horizontal Facility (HF) action organized a 4-day training session for 35 police officers on 27-30 June 2023 in Budva. The training is especially important in the light of the recent government decision to assign to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Administration the responsibility for comprehensive training of law enforcement officers at all levels. The training programme was focused on regulations governing the use of force and on imparting knowledge and skills related to the prohibition of torture.

The training organized by the Council of Europe plays a crucial role in strengthening internal police capabilities and creating an environment favourable to raising awareness of human rights principles among police officers.

The Director of Police Administration expressed his support to the HFIII “Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced person” by making an unplanned visit to the cascade training conducted by his colleagues. During his visit, he expressed his gratitude for the Council of Europe's assistance and cooperation in implementing Montenegro's policies to meet the standards set by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and following up on its recommendations after its visit to the country.

The training was organized within the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, implemented by the Council of Europe.

Montenegro 5 July 2023